Wife's fascination with soapie leaves special gift idea

Image: From Acorn Media's Upstairs Downstairs 40th Anniversary Edition.

HAPPY memories of the television soapies in black and white come flooding back. The endearing stars shone brightly in glorious monochrome in the two decades of Australian television before colour arrived in 1975. Abigail as the saucy blonde in the Aussie soapie Number 96 had eyes glued to screens back in 1972 but a rival female, with a bit more class, was on her way down under after her debut in the UK.

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THE 'migrant' was Lady Marjorie. The central character in Upstairs, Downstairs became the greatest screen heroine for newlywed Evelyn Le Brocq, who moved to Queensland from Melbourne with her husband Barrie 44 years ago. Evelyn grew up in suburban Collingwood with fierce loyalty to her local football team and Barrie in Caulfield with his heart behind St Kilda, "the mighty Saints". "It was quite a day when the two teams played each other," Barrie says.

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BARRIE recalls shuffling on the sofa in anticipation of a switch to the AFL match of the day as his wife tuned into every episode of the frightfully English story of an upper class family and their servants in the early 1900s. The ups and downs in the London household failed to win the heart of the mechanic who spent 15 years with Mack Trucks, then turned his skills to rebuilding small engines.

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EVELYN worked as a payroll/personnel officer until her retirement. The couple lived in Redland Bay and Cleveland in their senior years before moving to Cornubia. In November last year, Evelyn died, aged 79. Barrie says he became quite familiar with Upstairs, Downstairs through not only the original screenings and reruns but also his wife's collection of 68 episodes which were released on DVD to mark the show's 40th anniversary. "I had to watch it – it's quite good really but it's more of a women's thingo," he says.

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BARRIE's For Sale notice highlighted the fairer sex, suggesting the collection as a Christmas present "for Mum". Mourning the loss of his wife, Barrie, who describes himself as "a crazy golfer", has been unable to play because of knee troubles. One of his main interests is the Mates for Mates program with Beenleigh RSL to help servicemen returning from Afghanistan.

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Fundraiser update

CHRISSIE Stephens, of Victoria Point, thanks the guests who attended the recent morning tea at Redland IndigiScapes Centre for her daughter Sarah Gillies, who has leukaemia (Classie Corner, November 1). Chrissie says her neighbours Colleen Binstead, Carol Sneezby and Julie Jerrett have given much support. She asks that blood donors talk to Australian Red Cross about stem-cell donation. "If you would like to donate your stem cells, please – you can save another life like Sarah’s," Chrissie says.

This column appeared in The Redland Times in December.